UCI

Crime: Crime Perceptions

Although the financial crisis has surpassed crime as the county's top problem, residents today are just as likely as they were a year ago to rate crime as a big county problem and to fear being the victim of a crime.

Nearly half (43%) of local residents describe crime in Orange County as a big problem today, while another 46 percent say it is least somewhat of a problem.

Forty-seven percent are very (9%) or somewhat (38%) fearful about being the victim of a serious crime.

Both of these crime attitudes are unchanged from a year ago.

Central County residents (55%) are the most likely, and South County residents (33%) are the least likely, to say crime is a big problem. Those with incomes under $36,000 (47%) are much more likely than those with incomes of $80,000 or more (33%) to sa y crime in Orange County is a big problem. The perception of crime as a big problem is more prevalent among those who are 55 or older (53%) than for younger adults (40%).

Fear of crime victimization is lowest in the South County (40%), and highest in the Central County (56%). Residents earning less than $36,000 (53%) are more fearful than those with incomes of $80,000 or more (37%). There are no differences by age.

Interestingly, those who have already been affected by the bankruptcy are more likely than others to fear being victim to a serious crime (56% to 45%). They are no different, however, with respect to identifying crime as a big problem in Orange County.

Also, those who are very fearful about the bankruptcy's future impacts are more likely than those who are not fearful at all to say crime is a big problem in the county (55% to 37%) and to fear being a crime victim (60% to 34%).